Relationship between canopy architecture and fruit quality on 'Rich May' peach grafted onto 'Penta' and 'GF677' rootstocks

Observations on crop efficiency and fruit quality of peach trees of ‘Rich May’ grafted onto ‘GF677’ (peach x almond) and ‘Penta’ (Prunus domestica L.) rootstocks are reported. Results were related to canopy architecture parameters, particularly to scaffold branches, shoot and leaf blade inclination angles, to the pattern of light distribution, and to the area of sunflecks projected at midday on the ground. Trees grafted onto ‘GF677’ were more vigorous, in terms of trunk cross-sectional area, summer pruning weight and leaf area. Within canopy light distribution profiles were in agreement with foliage density, with a higher light interception observed in trees grafted on ‘GF677’. Within canop…

Postharvest Application of Sulphur Dioxide Fumigation to Improve Quality and Storage Ability of "Red Globe" Grape Cultivar During Long Cold Storage

Table grape cv 'Red Globe' is produced in Sicily and in other areas of Southern Italy. This produce is very appreciated by consumers, having the best rankings in the world market for exports and quality. Nevertheless, despite it is a non-climacteric fruit, table grape is very perishable, both after harvest, and during postharvest handling and cold storage. In fact, also at low temperatures, table grape is very sensitive to fungal infection (Botrytis cinerea) and other diseases, like gray mold, which is very aggressive. For this reason, a standard practice is to fumigate table grape with sulphur dioxide (SO2), after storage in chambers. The growing market request of table grape cv. 'Red Glob…

Start-up of a submerged membrane bioreactor with complete sludge retention

The effect of complementary irrigation on fruit growth, ripening pattern and oil characteristics of olive (Olea europaea L.) cv. Carolea

SummaryComplementary irrigation, 80 mm, distributed only during the third stage of fruit development, delayed ripening time and increased fruit size and oil content for fruits of the olive cv. Carolea. Prolonged water deficit reduced fruit growth, oil accumulation rate, K content of the fruit and enhanced ripening and pre-harvest fruit drop. Harvest time affected oil characteristics more than the water availability. Fatty acid composition was not affected by the water regime but polyphenol content increased and alcohol content decreased in the oil produced by irrigated trees.

Effect of fruit-set time on the quality performance of Anona cherimola Mill. fruit in south italy

Abstract The aim of this work was to analyse the differences between fruits obtained by different dates of fruit set and identify the proper fruit-set time that allows to obtain the optimum fruit quality in Annona cherimola cv Fino de Jete, planted in Southern Italy. Six fruit-set dates were selected from the first week of June to the second week of July. Fruits were sampled from October to November, when 1500 Growing Degree Days (DD) were accumulated; The DD were calculated using a base temperature of 12 °C. Fruit fresh weight (FW) and skin colour were measured. These parameters were measured also after storage, and in addition, the following parameters were measured: fruit shape (FS), pul…

Effects of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Chitosan Treatment on Quality and Sensorial Parameters of Minimally Processed cv. ‘Italia’ Table Grapes

Table grape is a non-climacteric fruit, very sensitive to water loss and gray mold during postharvest handling and storage. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of modified atmosphere packaging and chitosan treatment on quality and sensorial parameters of minimally processed cv. ‘Italia’ table grape during cold storage (14 days at 5 °C) and shelf-life (7 and 14 days of cold storage plus 5 days at 20 °C), reproducing a retail sales condition. Our data showed a significant effect of high CO2-modified atmosphere in combination with chitosan and alone on preserving quality, sensorial parameters, and delaying decay of minimally processed table grape. The most effective treatment in t…

Effect of summer pruning on some fruit quality traits in Hayward kiwifruit

Introduction . The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of various levels of light availability in the fruit microenvironment (induced by summer pruning) on some fruit quality traits. Materials and methods . Two levels of summer pruning were set: removal of either 30% or 60% of the canopy leaf area. These treatments were compared with the control (unpruned vines). Two canopy layers (upper and lower) were identified in each treatment and in the control vines. At harvest, yield per cane and per shoot was recorded in the two canopy layers; fruit fresh weight, flesh firmness, total soluble solid content and total titratable acidity were measured. Fruit Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and…

The role of mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. on sweet cherry fruit during storage

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an important crop from temperate areas and is widespread and much appreciated by the consumers when the pedicel is green. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of sweet cherry fruit treated with a mucilage coating, extracted from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill (OFI). The cultivar ‘Ferrovia’ was harvested at the commercial ripeness stage from an orchard in Puglia (Italy), stored for 14 days at 2°C and RH 92% and to evaluated by the variation of color and other qualitative parameters such as physical-chemical, nutraceutical and sensory analysis. Fruits were transferred at 10°C to postharvest laboratory of University of Palermo after…

WITHIN TREE AND ORCHARD VARIABILITY OF SILVER KING PEACH (PRUNUS PERSICA (L.) BATSCH) FRUIT QUALITY

The variability of crop quality accounts for most of seasonal variation of farmers’ incomes, since fruit value mostlydepends on its size and overall quality. Canopy architecture and orchard lay-out are mainly responsible for within tree environment and allocation, which in turn, account for fruit quality and its variability. Little is known about within tree and between trees variability resulting from different planting and training systems. A positive relationship has been measured in peach between PAR and TEAC (Motisi et al., 2005; Scalzo et al., 2005; Motisi et al., 2008). This study was carried out to measure within tree and orchard variability of fruits of the early ripening ‘Silver K…

Use of xanthan gum as edible coating to prolong shelf life of cactus pear fruit

The objective of this work was to elucidate the effect of xanthan gum-based edible coating C35H49O29 on the quality of cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica). The research was conducted in 2018, on O. ficus-indica ‘Bianca’ fruit, coming from second bloom “scozzolatura”. After harvest, 100 fruits were coated with a xantan gum (XAN) and distilled water and on other 100 fruits were immersed in distilled water (CTR). All fruits were stored at 6±0.5°C with RH 90% for 30 days. Every 7 days, visual quality browning index score, flesh colour, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), ascorbic acid and total phenols were measured. During cold storage, fruit treated with XAN (p<0.05) showe…

Evaluation of fruit quality and antioxidant activity of kiwifruit during ripening and after storage

BACKGROUND: In the Northern hemisphere kiwifruit harvest time is conditioned by low temperatures occurring during the harvesting season while in Southern Italy minimum temperatures in autumn are high enough to support fruit growth and ripening. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of delayed harvest time on kiwifruit quality attributes. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in a commercial kiwifruit, 'Hayward', orchard located in Southern Italy. In this area, the conventional harvest time occurs 160 days after full bloom (DAFB), during the first decade of November. Fruits were collected from 130 DAFB to 192 DAFB. Fresh fruit and dry weight, flesh color, firmness, total soluble solids cont…

Effect of mucilage edible coating on fresh-cut nectarine cultivar ‘Big Bang’

The mucilage (OFI) obtained from cladodes of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is useful to produce natural edible coatings to improve the shelf life of fruits. Edible coatings could be used to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut for products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of (OFI) on quality of ‘Big Bang' nectarine slices. After cutting, nectarine slices were dipped in three different solutions: 1) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol (MC); 2) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol, Tween 20 (TW); 3) distilled water as control (CTR) and were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 days at 5°C and 90% RH, in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages under passive modified atmosphere condit…

Rootstock and fruit canopy position affect peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] (cv. Rich May) plant productivity and fruit sensorial and nutritional quality.

The right combination of rootstock and training system is important for increased yield and fruit sensorial and nutritional homogeneity and quality with peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. We investigated the effects of rootstock and training system on these parameters, testing the effect of vigorous GF677 and weaker Penta - rootstock on 'Rich May' peach cultivar. Fruit position effects regarding photosynthetically active radiation availability, along the canopy profile using the Y training system, were investigated. The positive relationships between total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity according to canopy vigour and architecture were determined for the two scion/stock combin…